Fish and the Mediterranean: the nourishing sea

John Boardman Ancient West and East 10 (2011): 1-9

Historians of the Mediterranean economy have generally been dismissive of the role of the fish trade both as an important source of vital food and as a financial benefit to communities which dealt on any scale with fishing, fish-farming and fish preservation for food. There are many indications that this is unjust, and that it might seriously distort our view of the Mediterranean economy and trade. This article draws attention to data which have so far been ignored in the discussion or given insufficient weight: the profits from the trade, the archaeological evidence from sites and wrecks, the sources and importance of pickling agents.